EV Towing

Page 8 - Passionate about caravans & motorhome? Join our community to share that passion with a global audience!
Status
Not open for further replies.
Jul 18, 2017
11,942
3,325
32,935
Visit site
I heard on the grapevine that some EVs cannot be repaired after an accident even a small mishap due to thh battery being an integral part of the vehicle. Also if the battery is damaged in the mishap the car will be written off. If true I would think that owner's of EVs are paying or will be paying a higher premium than ICE vehicles that can be repaired for the same type of mishap.
 
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
I heard on the grapevine that some EVs cannot be repaired after an accident even a small mishap due to thh battery being an integral part of the vehicle. Also if the battery is damaged in the mishap the car will be written off. If true I would think that owner's of EVs are paying or will be paying a higher premium than ICE vehicles that can be repaired for the same type of mishap.
Where our Rio is in having a bumper repair there was a Tesla with mangled front end. I asked the surveyor if it was going to be written off. “No “ was his answer, it was scheduled into the body shop programme. But it wasn’t damaged in the battery area.

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Echodale
Mar 14, 2005
17,557
3,051
50,935
Visit site
I heard on the grapevine that some EVs cannot be repaired after an accident even a small mishap due to thh battery being an integral part of the vehicle. Also if the battery is damaged in the mishap the car will be written off. If true I would think that owner's of EVs are paying or will be paying a higher premium than ICE vehicles that can be repaired for the same type of mishap.
Not that it's really relevant to towing with an EV...

But generally the battery in an EV is as well or better protected than the fuel tank in an ICE vehicle.

Some ICE vehicles have been written of for what might seem appear to be a minor shunt also - it all depends on what has actually been damaged and it can only be gauged on a case by case basis, not on hearsay.
 
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
Not that it's really relevant to towing with an EV...

But generally the battery in an EV is as well or better protected than the fuel tank in an ICE vehicle.

Some ICE vehicles have been written of for what might seem appear to be a minor shunt also - it all depends on what has actually been damaged and it can only be gauged on a case by case basis, not on hearsay.
For most ICE vehicles it’s not difficult to replace a fuel tank should it be damaged. But where it is sited would determine the overall repaiability. Certainly repair options for some EV are limited if the battery should sustain damage. But some makers have designed their cars to make battery changes “ easier” whilst others have the battery as an integral part of the structure. Also battery recycling is still a developing area still in its infancy. The document in my post above gives an overview of the situation.
 
Last edited:
Jun 20, 2005
17,263
3,486
50,935
Visit site
A long time back another post explained repairing EVs is a specialist job. Not the body but the potential electrocution to the workshop staff. Those body shops capable of doing EV repairs now have specialist kit to ensure the operative is safe. Eg he wears an insulated harness do another can pull him away when electrocution happens. It is becoming more noticeable on our roads that after a collision the EV is left untouched awaiting specialist removal. No doubt in future years things will change but not at the moment.
 
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
A long time back another post explained repairing EVs is a specialist job. Not the body but the potential electrocution to the workshop staff. Those body shops capable of doing EV repairs now have specialist kit to ensure the operative is safe. Eg he wears an insulated harness do another can pull him away when electrocution happens. It is becoming more noticeable on our roads that after a collision the EV is left untouched awaiting specialist removal. No doubt in future years things will change but not at the moment.
Where our Rio is in for repair it’s an insurance main repair Center approved for Tesla, and other makes that may have or may not have electrical powertrain elements
 
Nov 6, 2005
7,341
2,046
25,935
Visit site
In the USA, insurance companies are threatening car makers with higher insurance premiums for their models unless they release safety-related data to allow EVs to be repaired safely.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dustydog
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
In the USA, insurance companies are threatening car makers with higher insurance premiums for their models unless they release safety-related data to allow EVs to be repaired safely.
Now three links two the same and the third close enough to be plagiarised or created by Chat GPT. But the thrust of the articles must be of concern both to insurers and motorists. Not surprising as the common source is Reuters.
 
Mar 14, 2005
17,557
3,051
50,935
Visit site
Every new technology produces new challenges and there are almost always some serious fails, but those fails drive the redevelopment of the concept until it becomes a manageable process.

We are still in the very early stages of developing and adopting EV technology, Its frankly amazing how far we have come in just a decade, compared to the 100 plus years of ICe.

We don't seem to have burning EV's at every junction, nor are we being drowned by the piles of failed or damaged batteries. As ever these are clickbait stories, probably fanned by those who have a vested interest in maintaining the petrochemical status quo.

There are already several pilot plants around the world designed to recycle EV batteries, but the number of scrapped batteries is far smaller than even the industry anticipated so presently the economies of recycling end of life batteries hasn't become viable on a big scale. There will be an increasing number as more EV's and Hybrids are used and at some point there will be UK plants to handle them.

Yes there are issues with tackling fires involving EV batteries, and you can be certain the Fire Service is developing strategies to handle them, but becasue they are still actually quite rare and practical experience is taking time to be gained and procedures to be bedded in. But its a continually changing and developing subject area.

Battery manufacturers are working to reduce the risk of cells self destructing if they are damaged. Its an ongoing development on many fronts, and I am confident that before much longer the risks will be reduced even further.

We can't be complacent, and more does need to be done, but equally we shouldn't be giving such over egged stories so much credence.

Simply due to the sheer numbers of ICe vehicles on the roads there will be many more fires and scrapped ICE vehicles, with all the pollution they cause than EV's for many decades to come.
 
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
Haven't EVs been around for over a century?
1839 Robert DaviDyson a Scot produced a car propelled by battery. 1884 Elwell and Parker in Wolverhampton made what is reputed to be the first commercial electric car. But not sure what your point is? Until relatively recently lithium ion batteries were not used extensively. It’s those that present the different risk of fire.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ProfJohnL
Jun 20, 2005
17,263
3,486
50,935
Visit site
Seems a very honest appraisal from someone in the know. I am sure EV will happen but as said the timing is probably too optimistic. I suggest the Jury is still out on the long term availability of Lithium and other rare metals, never mind the affordability to most vehicle users. The DoT spokesman gives the usual answer that is political junk.
 
Mar 14, 2005
17,557
3,051
50,935
Visit site
This is another opinion from a highly biased source influenced and a vested interest in the petrochemical industry status quo.

The car industry will have had enough time by 2030 to remove ICE from new car sales. If they haven't done so, its their inertia in implementing the changes necessary.

By now I think any business that was genuinely planning to move electric would have firm plans and time scales to do so. Instead of concentration on high power supper performance EV's they should have been looking at smaller models suited for the wider public needs. Their failure to deal with this sector is going to backfire as the Chinese Korean and other eastern countries seem to have understood this and are ramping up production to meet these customers needs.

The traditional manufacturers have got to face up to the reality of the future.
 
Jun 20, 2005
17,263
3,486
50,935
Visit site
I guess the usual debate will start again😢
The one aspect that causes me concern is HMG pathetic investment in the charging infrastructure.
With 7 years to go to E day there must be at least an equal number of rapid charging points to petrol/diesel pumps, home charging facilities for all. Exciting times😉
 
Nov 6, 2005
7,341
2,046
25,935
Visit site
I guess the usual debate will start again😢
The one aspect that causes me concern is HMG pathetic investment in the charging infrastructure.
With 7 years to go to E day there must be at least an equal number of rapid charging points to petrol/diesel pumps, home charging facilities for all. Exciting times😉
The government of the day didn't invest in coaching inns or petrol stations so no reason for them to spend hard-earned taxes on EV charging stations - it should be down to market forces to provide the facility.
 
Jul 18, 2017
11,942
3,325
32,935
Visit site
I must admit that there is no way we would buy a Chinese manufactured vehicle. At the moment we try where possible to avoid buying any Chinese goods although that is very difficult.
 
Nov 11, 2009
20,098
6,131
50,935
Visit site
I must admit that there is no way we would buy a Chinese manufactured vehicle. At the moment we try where possible to avoid buying any Chinese goods although that is very difficult.
This bias towards all things Chinese is difficult to understand and is quite irrational. Not everything that comes out of China is poor quality and many products are class leading. They ostensibly led in the mass introduction of electric vehicles and battery. Makes such as Polestar, Mini, MG and even VAG are owned by Chinese company or partnered with them. Now we are seeing Chinese car brands being introduced in to Europe in their own right. They may well do what the Japanese did for motor bikes, home electronics and cars.
 
Jul 18, 2017
11,942
3,325
32,935
Visit site
This bias towards all things Chinese is difficult to understand and is quite irrational. Not everything that comes out of China is poor quality and many products are class leading. They ostensibly led in the mass introduction of electric vehicles and battery. Makes such as Polestar, Mini, MG and even VAG are owned by Chinese company or partnered with them. Now we are seeing Chinese car brands being introduced in to Europe in their own right. They may well do what the Japanese did for motor bikes, home electronics and cars.
It is not the quality issue, but the human rights issue, but lets not go there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RogerL and Dustydog
Jun 20, 2005
17,263
3,486
50,935
Visit site
The government of the day didn't invest in coaching inns or petrol stations so no reason for them to spend hard-earned taxes on EV charging stations - it should be down to market forces to provide the facility.
But in those cases the Government of the day didn’t lay down the Law of coach and horses or petrol fuelled vehicles
 
Mar 14, 2005
17,557
3,051
50,935
Visit site
The one aspect that causes me concern is HMG pathetic investment in the charging infrastructure.
With 7 years to go to E day there must be at least an equal number of rapid charging points to petrol/diesel pumps, home charging facilities for all. Exciting times😉
As Roger has said the provision of facilities has always been driven by market forces, But I do agree it should at least be helped by government action , in particular it should be mandatory that any point that charges money for energy should accept Credit Debit cards, and have a service level guarantee in terms of how quickly any point will be repaired of it goes down.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts